St. Louis Comedy Profile: Stryker Spurlock

Of all the stand up comics we asked to complete these profiles, Stryker Spurlock used the most words, and actually complained that he couldn’t self promote more. He’s going to go far. He’s part of a lot of projects in the St. Louis area, but can be found monthly at Contraceptive Comedy, a showcase he books and hosts.

How long have you been performing stand up?
Started at age 15 in 2012 but only did 20 sets that year because I moved from California to Arkansas for a few months and had my life derailed. Started again in STL in February 2013. So three and a half years, really.

Who are your comedy influences?
Carlin and Hicks, Patton Oswalt and David Cross and Doug Stanhope are what got me into it. Now, my top three are probably Eddie Pepitone, Marc Maron, and Kyle Kinane. I traded out sets of angry white guys. I am deeply sorry.

Describe your worst experience on stage.
December of 2013, Danno’s open mic. Told one joke and was struck by utter despair at the fact there was literally no one paying attention and I was doing comedy to ether. Walked off. 47 seconds total.

Describe your best experience on stage.
Hottest crowd was probably at Boy Kisses in Minneapolis. Can’t think of a single defining one. I usually am unhappy about all of them for whatever reason. I’d say maybe when a new bit really works and feels authentic the first time I tell it.

What do you like best about the St. Louis Comedy scene?
I really think we have a handful of the most talented comics in the midwest, maybe even the country. Amy Milton, Ben Johnson, Kenny Kinds, Milly Naeger before she decided to go to China for a year, Jeremy Hellwig, Eric Brown, Spencer Tegtmeyer, etc. That’s my magnificent seven. I wish I could just book them all on a Nerd Melt showcase and shove them in the industry’s faces.

We’re typing these questions up in a coffee house. Is there anything you’d like us to tell the other people here?
Tell these guys to write more serious questions so I can talk about my self more.

Rank the following in order of coolness. Pirate, Ninja, Zombie, Robot.
Pirates are the coolest on account of they were real. Ninjas are real too but they were mostly land based, so second place. Zombies are third place because I love necromancy and the occult, two things which are *not* real. Robots can eat shit. We made them.